butterbean
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 2271
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 Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject: New Legislation on Immigration Visas to Help Maineiacs |
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LEWISTON, Maine --Foreign players on the Lewiston Maineiacs hockey team will be treated like sports professionals rather than seasonal migrant workers under new federal legislation.
Congress on Saturday passed an immigration law that will allow minor league athletes, like those on the Maineiacs, to qualify for the same immigration visas used by major league athletes.
Under the current system, minor league players are in the United States under an H2B visa, where they are included in a pool of seasonal migrant workers such as apple pickers or restaurant and hotel employees. There is a cap on the number of H2B visas given each year, leaving players vulnerable to not receiving one until the next round that begins in October.
The Maineiacs, the only American team in the 16-team Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, is particularly susceptible because most of its players are Canadian. Only two Americans are listed on its 24-player roster, with two others coming from Slovakia and the rest from Canada
continued:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/12/10/new_legislation_on_immigration_visas_to_help_maineiacs/ |
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